Hero select is the first decision you make in a Deep Sky: Tracers match, and it shapes everything that comes after.
This is not a cosmetic choice. V0!D and H00_t have different abilities, different combat textures, and different board identities. Picking the one that matches how you want to play makes every other decision in the match feel more natural.
[PICTURE OF THE HERO SELECT SCREEN WITH V0!D AND H00_T SIDE BY SIDE]
What V0!D wants from a match
V0!D is built around pressure, disruption, and aggression. Her entire kit is designed to weaken enemy units and create damage advantages before trades even begin.
Her passive generates Pulse during combat cycles (as long as she has at least 2 non-token allies alive). Pulse fuels her Spark and Ultimate abilities, which apply debuffs that reduce enemy output and control their actions.
V0!D wants boards that hit hard and hit fast. She rewards compositions that can take early leads and break opponents before they stabilize. Her active ability — Blood Corruption — is the ultimate expression of this identity: sacrifice 2 HP to turn a unit into a short-lived weapon with +5 attack that self-destructs after 2 of its own attacks.
[PICTURE OF V0!D'S HERO CARD OR ABILITY PANEL SHOWING HER KIT]
If you enjoy playing aggressively, making calculated sacrifices, and tilting trades in your favor through disruption, V0!D fits that style.
What H00_t wants from a match
H00_t is the opposite identity — sustain, recovery, and outlasting. His kit heals allies, grants shields, and keeps boards alive through fights that would otherwise break them.
H00_t also generates Pulse during combat, and his abilities use it to restore HP and add shields to units that need them. His boards tend to survive longer, generate more Pulse, and create a positive feedback loop where durability enables more healing.
His active ability — Bulwark Blessing — costs 2 CR (not HP) and grants a target unit +5 shield at combat start. It is less dramatic than V0!D's sacrifice, but it is consistent and safe. A well-timed Bulwark on your key frontliner can absorb an entire extra exchange.
If you enjoy building durable boards, stabilizing under pressure, and winning through endurance rather than burst, H00_t fits that style.
Active ability comparison
The active abilities are the clearest difference between the two heroes, and they tell you a lot about what each one values.
V0!D — Blood Corruption: costs 2 HP from your hero. Targets a non-token unit and gives it +5 attack. That unit becomes CORRUPTED and dies after 2 of its own attacks. This is a tempo play — you sacrifice your own HP and a unit's lifespan for an immediate burst of power. It is strongest when you need to win a specific combat or when the CORRUPTED unit can deal its damage before the self-destruct matters.
H00_t — Bulwark Blessing: costs 2 CR. Targets a non-token unit and gives it +5 shield at the start of combat. This is a stability play — you spend economy resources instead of HP to protect a key piece. Bulwark is strongest on a frontliner who absorbs pressure or on a carry unit you need to survive one more exchange.
[PICTURE COMPARING BLOOD CORRUPTION EFFECT ON A UNIT VS BULWARK BLESSING EFFECT]
V0!D's active trades HP for power. H00_t's active trades credits for protection. Both are strong — they just serve different game plans.
Spark and Ultimate comparison
Both heroes use the Pulse system. At 1 Pulse, the Spark fires. At 2 Pulse, the Ultimate fires.
V0!D Spark — Dread Ping: applies DREAD (-2 power debuff) to the strongest enemy unit. This reduces the enemy's next attack damage, weakening their best piece before a key trade.
V0!D Ultimate — Fear Broadcast: applies FEAR to the strongest enemy (skipping their next attack entirely) and DREAD (-2) to all enemies. If only one enemy unit remains, it gets FEAR plus 3 true damage. This is a fight-ending ability against weakened boards.
H00_t Spark — Gentle Patch: heals the most wounded ally for 2 HP. If that heals above max HP, the excess becomes shields (up to 2). A small but consistent recovery that keeps your weakest piece in the fight.
H00_t Ultimate — Sanctuary Wave: heals all allies for 2 HP (excess becomes shields up to 2), then heals the most wounded ally for an additional 3 HP. This is a massive board-wide recovery that can swing a combat that looked lost.
[PICTURE OF SPARK AND ULTIMATE ABILITIES FIRING DURING COMBAT FOR BOTH HEROES]
Which hero feels better for different player types
Neither hero is objectively better. They are different strategic lenses.
Pick V0!D if you:
- like aggressive, fast-paced boards
- enjoy making calculated sacrifices for tempo
- want to disrupt your opponent's strongest pieces
- prefer winning through damage and pressure
Pick H00_t if you:
- like durable, resilient boards
- enjoy stabilizing from behind
- want to protect your key units through longer fights
- prefer winning through endurance and consistency
For your first few matches, try both. You will quickly feel which style matches your instincts. Once you know that, every other decision in the match — contracts, chips, positioning — starts to connect more naturally.
Want the full walkthrough? Read the first match guide. For hero ability details during combat, check out the hero pulse system guide.